Puncturing device for containers



M y D. OSTRANDER' 2,284,066

PUNCTURING DEVICE FOR CONTAINERS Filed Dec. 6, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 26, 1942. D QSTRANDER 2,284,066

PUNCTURI-NG- DEVICE FOR CONTAINERS F'il ed Dec. 6, 1941 s Sheets-Sheet s Patented May 26, 1942 2,28fi66 PEINC'EURKNG DEVECE FOR CQNTAKNERS 8 Claims.

This invention relates to a puncturing machine especially adapted for simultaneously opening one or more cans or metallic containers to permit the contents thereof to be ventedand dispensed therefrom or whereby the contents may be freely drunk therefrom.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of a portable device which may be conveniently mounted on a wall, table, counter or other support and in which one or more containers may be conveniently placed for simultaneous puncturing to provide in each container a vent opening and a second opening opposite thereto for dispensing the contents of the container, the construction of the device being such that the containers may be easily removed after being punctured.

Another object of this invention is the provision of means for accommodating containers of different heights, so that each container placed within the device may be efficiently acted on by the puncturing means actuated by a single manually operated lever.

With these and other objects in View as will become more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation illustrating 'a puncturing machine constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view illustrating the device.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the device with cans or containers arranged therein and in position to be acted upon by the puncturing means, also showing the means for accommodating cans of difierent heights.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the puncturing means.

Figure 5 is an end elevation, partly in section, illustrating linkage forming a part of the operating means for the puncturing means.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view'illustrating the puncturing means and the paths of movement thereof.

Figure 7 is a perspective view illustrating one of the adjusting rods.

Figure 8 is a top plan view illustrating one of the cans or containers after being punctured by the device.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 5 indicates a main housing of the device, such figures as l, 2, 3 and 5 of the drawings clearly illustrating the general exterior appearance of said housing. However, it is to be understood that the exterior appearance of the hous- 'ing may be varied from that shown without departing from the spirit of this invention.

The front wall it of the housing is cut away to provide entrances 1 for compartments 8 formed within the housing by the provision of partitions 9. It is to be understood that any number of compartments may be had over that shown in the drawings by increasing the size of the housing 5 and the number of partitions so that the machine can be made to act upon one or more cans or containers simultaneously when arranged within the compartments.

The entrances l of the compartments are of such size that they will permit cans or containers to be readily inserted and removed from the housing when desired by supporting the cans or containers in slightly tilted position during the -movement thereof through the entrances.

Adjustable false bottoms or racks 88 are arranged within the compartments 8 and are capable of vertical adjustment therein so that cans or containers of different heights may be supported in proper position to be acted on by puncturing means H. The false bottoms l0 are of the flanged type and are provided with hangers I 2 receiving anchoring rods l3 that operate in slots Id provided in end walls of the housing and slots l5 within the partitions 9. Each rod is has integral with one end a head l6 provided with lugs l7 engaging the walls of the slots IS. The lugs I'l operating in the slots l5 prevent the rods l3 from rotating. The other ends of the rods are screw threaded and have threaded thereon nuts l8, preferably of the wing type as shown in the drawings, so that said nuts may be threaded on and oil of the rods as desired.

It will be seen that the nuts I8 coact with the heads It in clamping the false bottoms Ill in adjusted position. To clamp the false bottoms,

- the nuts 18 are turned on the rods binding against the end walls of the housing and drawing the heads I6 against the partition 9.

The end walls of the housing 5 above the entrances and also the partitions 9 are provided with journals I9 to rotatably support spaced parallel horizontally arranged shafts 20, both of which extend through one of the end walls of the housing and enter a casing 2! carried by the latter-named end wall of the housing. The

shafts have notches 22 in which are secured puncturing blades or elements 22. The blades or elements 23 are arranged in opposed pairs extending in the direction of each other by their arrangement on the shafts so that each can or container will be acted on by a pair ofblades or elements. Each blade or element is preferably provided with a substantially triangular shaped cutting portion which during the rotation of the shafts in one direction will bring about puncturing of the cans or containers and a reverse rotation of the shafts will elevate or remove the puncturing elements from said cans or containers.

By this arrangement, it will be seen that each can is punctured in two places, one place opposite the other so that the can will be efficiently vented by one of the openings and the contents may freely flow through the other opening on the tilting of the can or container.

One of the shafts extends through the casing 2| and has secured thereto a hand lever 24 provided with a suitable'grip 25, Said latter-named shaft has secured thereto an arm 26 within the casing 2| carrying a headed pin 21 operating in a slot 28 of a'link 29 secured on the other shaft.

When the hand lever 24 is disposed uppermost in a vertical position under the influence of a coil spring 29' connected to the arm 26 and to the casing 2| positions the cutting or puncturing elements in a substantially horizontal position with the puncturing ends thereof directed downwardly from the horizontal so that when the lever 24 is swung downwardly, the puncturing elements will be caused to penetrate the upper walls of the cans or containers forming in each the oppositely arranged openings as heretofore described. 7

As soon as the hand lever 24 is released from its downward position, the spring 29' acts to return said hand lever to its uppermost vertical rotating opposite to the other and the'means of restoring the hand lever to its vertical and uppermost position. Other means may be provided for establishing a drive between the shafts ifso desired such as meshing gears.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings it will be seen that an emcient can or container puncturing device or machine has been provided which may be economically constructed and is simple to operate and practically free from mechanical defects. Also, it will be seen that a de- .vice of the described character may be conveniently carried from one place to another and easily set up for use and made attached to its support by simply providing in one or more walls of the housing keyhole slots to receive fasteners. when the device is set up for use it will be clearly apparent that one or more cans or containers may be simultaneously punctured through the operation of a single hand lever, with each can commodating cans or containers of different heights and in proper relation to be acted on by the puncturing elements. Also, it is to be noted that the puncturing elements normally occupy such a position that when moved to a puncturing position they will have the most efflcient cutting action on the cans or containers due to their inclination being downwardly from a horizontal. Further it will be seen that as soon as the operating lever is manually released the puncturins elements as well as the operating lever return to their initial positions automatically freeing the cans or containers so that they may be quickly removed by way of ,the entrances.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood, that minor changes in construction. combination "and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is;

1. In a puncturing device, a housing havingv an entrance to permit containers to be placed therein and removed therefrom, means for supporting said containers in the housing, and a manually entrance to permit containers to be placed there- 7 in and removed therefrom, a manually operated puncturing-means carried by the housing for simultaneously puncturing each container with a pair of openings, and means for adiustably supporting said containers in the housing whereby containers of different heights may be properly located with respect to said puncturing means.

compartments, shafts journaled in said housing, 1

puncturing elements carried by said shafts, drive means connecting said shafts for the rotation of said shafts in opposite directions to'each other, and means connected to one of said shafts for imparting rotation thereto in either direction.

5. In a puncturing device, a housing having an entrance to permit containers to be placed therein and removed therefrom, means for adiustably supporting said containers in the housing. horizontally arranged shafts iournaled in said housing, puncturing elements secured to said shafts and arranged in opposed pairs, linkage connecting said shafts 'whereby'the rotation of one shaft brings about rotation of the other shaft in an opposite direction, and a hand lever connected to one of said shafts.

6. In a puncturing device, a housing having an entrance to permit containers to be placed therein and removed therefrom, means for adjustably supporting said containers in the housing, horizontally arranged shafts ioumaled in said housing,. puncturing elements secured to said shafts andarranged in opposed pairs, linkage connecting said shafts whereby the rotation of one shaft brings about rotation of the other shaft in an opposite direction, a hand lever connected to one of said shafts, and a spring connected to said linkage for restoring the puncturing elements and hand lever to their initial positions when the hand lever is manually released.

7. In a puncturing device, a housing having an entrance to permit containers to be placed therein and removed therefrom, means for adjustably supporting containers in the housing, horizontally arranged shafts journaled in said housing, a slotted link secured to one of said shafts, an arm secured to the other shaft, a pin on said arm I means, and false bottoms carried by said rods.

DEZELL OSTRANDER. 

